John Edwards Godfrey was born in Hampden, Maine in 1809, the son of John and
Sophia (Dunn) Godfrey. He attended Washington Academy in East Machias, Maine,
completing his studies in 1830. He read law with his father and with William
Abbott and was admitted to the Penobscot bar and opened a law office in Calais
in 1832. In 1834 he returned to Bangor, Maine, and later became a judge. He
lived in Bangor until his death in 1884 and played an important part in the
cultural and political life of the city. He was also the author of numerous
articles on the history of early Maine.
Further biographical notes can be found in the introduction of The Journals
of John Edwards Godfrey, Bangor, Maine 1863-1869, Courier-Gazette, Rockland,
1979.

Scope and Content Note

Manuscripts, diaries, and notes of a prominent 19th century Maine historian.
Especially strong in Maine and Bangor history. The papers were received
in a large box without order. Upon receipt, the papers were rearranged and
reordered into file folders. These folders have been put into alphabetical order
by title of the folder. The titles were assigned by the librarian and are based
upon titles on the works themselves or the first lines therein. In many cases
Godfrey's works were divided or were fragments. Where possible the parts have
been brought together to reform the original manuscript.

Contents of Boxes

Box 1201

Fl Ames child case. Sangerville, Maine.

F2 Annals of Bangor. These notes were made by the late Hon. Wm. D. Williamson of
Bangor, the last historian of Maine.

F29 Essay: "Geologists inform us that more than 400,000 years
ago a race of men existed upon the earth of a very low type."

F3O Essay: ' Geologists say that man has been upon the earth from
one hundred thousand to one million years. "

F3l Essay: "The great objection urged against sustaining the
government in carrying on the war is that the President has
issued his proclamation declaring the slaves of persons in
rebellion against the government of the United States on the
first of January 1863.

F32 Essay: "I saw somewhere in a report of a speech before an
educational committee or society that a majority of the boys of
Bangor grew up vicious and worthless."

F33 Essay: "Immediately after the annual election, copies of the
votes cast in the various precincts... "

Norumbega
Acadie
The Latours
Acadie Under Rarilli and the Pilgrims
The Rivals
Excitement Among the Puritans
The Governor Considers
The Expedition
LaTour Again in Boston
The Lady LaTour. her Trials and ?
D'Aulney Still Belligerent
Renewal of Negotiatons
LaTour a Wanderer
Death of D'Aulney
The Return of LaTour
Acadie Still Troubled
Acadie After the Death of Latour
Norumbega at the Close of the Century
The English Ravage Norumbega

F6 Norumbega. (from Ramasio)

F7 Notebook with entries dated December 21. 1829 through August
7, 185O.

F8 Noted localities.

F9-10 Notes and fragments. (unsorted. folder I)

F11-12 (Novel). (untitled)

FI3 Papers. undated material.

F14 Papers. 1700's.

F15 Papers. 1800 - 1809.

FI6 Papers. 1810 - 1819.

F17 Papers. 1820 - 1829.

F18 Papers. 1830 - 1839.

F19 Papers. 1840 - 1849.

F2O Papers. 1850 - 1859.

F21 Papers. 1860 - 1869.

F22 Penobscot.

F23 The Pilgrims at Penobscot.

F24 Popular superstitions.

F25 Printed papers. (unsorted)

F26 A sermon.

F27 St Domingo.

F28 Verses.

F29 Voyages de Champlain.

F3O Wills of John E. Godfrey.

Finding Aids for selected manuscript
collections in the Special Collections Department at Fogler Library are
accessible online in URSUS, in a browsable
Guide to Manuscript
Collections. Please contact Special Collections at spc@umit.maine.edu
or (207) 581-1686 for further information.